'Panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression kept slowing me down': Adventurer who changed her name to 'Terra Roam' conquers her demons to become the first woman to walk around Australia unassisted

Terra Roam, is the first women to walk around Australia solo

Roam set out on the 17,000km trek back in 2014 and finished last week

She took on the walk after a previous hike pushed her to attempted suicide

Roam says she practiced mindfulness to sustain her mental well-being

She also became an ambassador for Lifeline throughout the course of her travels

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'My therapist pointed out... the best thing I could do was start walking again,' she said.

And last week, Roam concluded her four-year, clockwise circumnavigation of the Australian mainland at Nobbys Beach, in her hometown of Newcastle.

Roam concluded her four-year, clockwise circumnavigation of the Australian mainland at Nobbys Beach, in her hometown of Newcastle last week - making her the first woman to walk around Australia solo and unsupported

It's a historic achievement, and one that will see her name etched in the annals of adventure history.

But the 46-year-old reflects that it was far from a walk in the park.

'Panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression kept slowing me down, and the physical injuries were so painful I was beginning to lose consciousness trying to walk,' she said.

In the face of such overwhelming adversity - which included scorching desert heat, cyclones and floods - Roam practiced mindfulness to sustain her mental well-being.

By grounding herself in the moment and remaining hyperaware of everything around her, she claims she was able to keep her thoughts from wandering off down dark roads of their own.

During the punishing walk - which included scorching heat, cyclones and floods, not to mention anxiety and depression - Roam practiced mindfulness to sustain her mental well-being

She also became became an ambassador for Lifeline throughout the course of her travels, raising awareness about suicide prevention and mental health.

'A lot of people spoke to me about where they were at and how they needed help and they were reaching out to me for that,' she said.

'So I was a listening ear for many, many people around Australia, and it was a privilege to be the first person that they approached, and to be able to direct them to more help in the future.'

In a social media post on Thursday - a week after 'walking into the history books', as she put it - Roam issued a thank you for everyone's support and declared that she would be going offline for a week.

But the avid adventurer shows no signs of slowing down, and plans to spend the winter writing a book about her Australian odyssey.

She's also bought herself a bike, and is already drawing up plans to begin a ride around Australia next year.

Showing no signs of slowing down, Roam has bought herself a bike and is already drawing up plans to begin a ride around Australia next year